Machine for feeding fittings



Aug. 18, 1953 A. w. PAYNE MACHINE FOR FEEDING FITTINGS Fil ed Nov. 1, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV TOR. 4/ Arthur! ay/7e 4 ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 18, 1953 A. w. PAYNE MACHINE FOR FEEDING FITTINGS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 1, 1948 INVENTOR.

Arthur- H, Zbqne ,fw

ATTORNEYS Aug. 18, 1953 A. w. PAYNE MACHINE FOR FEEDING FITTINGS Filed Nov. 1, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 m ma MP W ATTORNEYS.

A. w. PAYNE MACHINE FOR FEEDING FITTINGS Aug. 18, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 1, 1948 INVENTOR.

Arthur 14/119 BY 74m, W.@- KM ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 18,1953

MACHINE FOR FEEDING FITTINGS Arthur W. Payne, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Bundy Tubing Company, Detroit, Mich., a, corporation of Michigan Application November 1, 1948, Serial No. 57,802

- This invention relates to a machine for placing fittings on tubing.

Tubing of relatively small size, and for purposes of conducting liquid fuel, oil, and other liquids, and for conducting gas, and for use as a vacuum line or the like, is usually connected at its ends to a receptacle or to some other element, such as fuel burning equipment, or a pump or the like, or even to another length of tubing, by means of fittings ordinarily screw threaded together. One fitting member of such a coupling usually comprises a body through which the tube passes with the body provided with a screw thread and usually with a polygonal shaped head for the reception of a wrench or the like. The'fittings are screwed together and the tubing is held and sometimes clamped in position as the fittings are brought together as distinguished from having screw threads or other formation on the tubing.

Where a'length of tubing is to be used in an installation where it is so mounted at both ends, two fittings must be placed on the tube. Heretofore, this has been a hand operation. It will be understood that when tubing is manufactured to precise dimensions, the lengths of tubing are substantially completed and often shipped to the customer with the fittings applied thereto.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for applying two fittings to a length of tubing so that the fittings are reversed relative to each other in order that one fitting member may be properly positioned for functioning at one end of the tubing while the other is properly positioned for functioning at the opposite end of the tubing. In this connection, a hopper is used for selecting and feeding the fittings therefrom and a reversing means is provided for reversing the position of alternate fitting members so that when two of such members are applied to the tube, they are in the necessary reversed position. A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for applying the fitting members to tubing at a rate faster than was heretofore possible and in an assured manner and with less labor.

Generally, the fittings are sorted and fed from 'a hopper, alternate fittings are reversed and fed to a holder and when a tube is positioned properly where it is clamped and held, operating meansserves to advance two reversely positioned fittings and apply the same to the tubing. 'One mechanism for carrying out the invention is disclosed in'the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the appara- 1 Claim. (Cl. 193-39) tus illustrating the hopper, the conduit system for compressed air for operating the machine, and illustrating a length of tubing in position to be acted upon. I

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken substantially on line 2--2 of Fig. 3 showing a length of tubing clamped in position.

' Fig. 3 is a side elevational view with some parts broken away and some parts in section showing the fitting reversing arrangement and the applying means.

Fig. 4 is a detailed view looking in the direction of the line 4-4 of Fig. 5 showing the operating mechanism for the fitting holder.

Fig. 5 is a view partly in section taken substantially on line 5--5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6' is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the parts in a different position and illustrating the action of the fitting applying means.

Fig. '7 is a view illustrating some of the operating mechanism.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, there is a hopper l supported by a post 2 and which is revolved by suitable means, such as a motor 3. This hopper may be of any one of a type-into which a quantity of fittings are placed and which, in its operation, selects and feeds the fittings into an outlet conduit 4 with the fittings all disposed in one position. The fittings may be as illustrated in Fig. 6 with each comprising a body with a bore therethrough for receiving tubing and each having a nut-shaped head 6 and a screw threaded portion 1. The'tubing, as shown in Fig. 6, is illustrated at T. As shown in Fig. 3, the fittings are fed with the heads thereof positioned downwardly.

There is an oscillating device or shuttle to which the fittings are fed by the conduit 4. The conduit 4 connects into a fixed body [0 with a passageway ll therein into which the nuts are fed and the lower end is arcuate in formation as shown at I2, and positioned below the arcuate surface 12 is a shuttle'member Hi. The shuttle member l5 has an arm [6 pivotally mounted as at IT and which is operative to shift the shuttle mm and from thetwo positions shown in Figs. 3 and 6. The shuttle member l5 has two aperturesor passages therein as at [8 and IQ for receiving fittings. I

Positioned below the shuttle I5 is a member 26 having a curved-surface 2| which generally corresponds to the'arc of movement of the shuttle l5 and it has a tubular passage 22 and a tubular passage 23. These passages meet in a bight portion 24 and leading from the bight portion 24 is a This arrangement provides for the reversin end for end of alternate fittings as follows: In a position which might be considered the at rest position, a fitting falls or slides into the aperture it in the shuttle (Fig. 3). When the shuttle shifts to the position shown in Fig. 6 the fitting in aperture l8 falls by gravity through the tube 22 and it. h ame ime t r tt oves into the aperture H3 in the shuttle. Then when the shuttle moves back from the Fig. 6 position to the Fig. 3 position, the fitting in aperture {3 falls through the tube 23 and another fitting moves into the aperture 18. So, it will be seen,

alternately discharged into the tubes 22 and 231 The fitting which falls into tube 23 moves downwardly, passes through a part of the bight portion 24 and passes out through the tube '25. This fitting therefore maintains its position with the nut-shaped head downwardly or forwardly. Q i he e r h iit the itt e hith tells nte j ith ssiiiitei ie suise e hiss: 3 a d 6 are viewed; its inertia causes it to slide upwardly th lie-h psiti i bere it he i er e t o of t Qiit st t be 5;; i pwa d s s sht is stopped by entity an it ievsr es s m s i lsh and s ides Q it t ro gh the t be hi. hi thi i tiei the fit in ha been reve sed nd os nds ha e etes ed 2 the h ihes as failin o sliding down and the apparatus thus de cribed ereisrahiy a 'ei eeci se hat the f tin s do tel iqhlhwhlf lit Q fs ide d w rdly b the action of gravity.

th shut e is. attes ed b of; i hi secured to he isiir a e PQlftiPh. thsi ei ih i he. s. h ld, dsw w diy iii t e h ssitieiiv h ve Fig 3 hr !??2113"? a ei ai 9 me i h. th pi n hs si i is. rev ew. eluhee s f s i gaging the arm 30 and moving itupwardly to he. s itigh sh ir i Fia. w ee. s s plied t th q hhciei. p esent y p ear.

21.1 2 is a, s i ah e. hia isst sr he meii 3.

w h he t ltin st be iii 'fiecil he h in E h ishet. hhq i es a aihii heil er ehe e hs; e i? is ed zshsee. e ement i shes. tha ii e and sh s iniissi shi. fh sl h iie elemen is srah rq s sat s seeiiist aspir pressed nhii ssr t Ml- 16. erv s to shi h l mp 2% ts. seen. pss tig i when i iids nr sii s s e tsdi s h s q ii deh .3.- asshz-sil e lestne wit h. 4 an. astiis ihe si and h heath b the him A f. 3+ the es ii s a lv fllimfi i. h, h ts setjsh as a .6.. eiisi. i is has an arm. r he e m wi h e ubi a, The r g er s i a ily d'ii rets 't if w i tiihi ije s' i q ed i j th bracket structure, a slight pressure causes; the. erf to os cillate 'frq u e dotted line posh 2" the full line position- .1- :2. tes in asihs n'tq p ra iq As illu'strated in Fig. 1, air pressure. m y e upp i d; h 'hiie a cohdii lli hit ma a e uitable t iii valve r ii a d t s 5t; sstshd to st sn rs valve 5L2 which: 0 rated by "a, solenoid or ending from the valve. 51

gnet 53. E r

leads to. the cylinder 32 electroem 5 wh h is a conduit as shown in Fig. 6. Connected to the conduit is u i ds 3 wi hv 54 is another conduit 55 which leads to the cylinder 39 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. An auxiliary conduit 56 leads into the tube 22 so that air may be discharged in a downward direction therein through passage 51 formed in the member 20 and the line 56 may be controlled by a valve 58. The line 54 also extends to a cylinder (ii) which, as will presently be seen, pergorms in the function of applying the fittings to a tube. The air under pressure is supplied through conduit GI and through a pressure reducing valve 6; to a or reservoir 63 from which leads a conduit '64 and which connects into the opposite end githe cylinder [ii]. The line 6| is connected into. the air supply pipe 50 in advance of the control valve 52 and the reducer valve 62 so reduge th pressure that a relatively low pressure is supplied through the conduit 64.

The control switch 42 has electrical current supplied thereto through suitable conductors l0 and ised he e t e htr switch e, ce diistois it Which end ts su table e eqtrica t mer l? whi h is m eou ect i 9 t sQisiip d 531 y s iiis eis Th e i a h esh 15 F s, t. and 6) provide wi h s. fitti hs s i he form o a vlindn cs1 s lla ing m m er tl e jirh h wn at. 1 h a d he th s t sshiiesis in the blQQk as shqwn for P s g itt es ts. h Qs iiaiins sv ixis ties his c l nde has. a Passage 1 there-- through id the d ameter: i i the. y inde s such a to ec i and hh dtwo fi ihss. as. dica ed in F The sil a ihe y ihde fas an. arm .0 ss ir o s a is Qiitsi e the. b sls use and. h m he es iilete i to nd. 2mm.

. I 8i an ez. A rod 83 is. qh iss ed 9 T s. re 6 5 t nds QQ hX s i s ss ed. s he 3. 1- is ehlv; h qqhi es in one direction, for whic is provided with a nut 8. 4 which engages a proi i i .5. sh i s i hi he. Thi izroie 'ti h s it i shd hg. s ee h whil sec red, hi is is s f h a ng element 81 Whih S; i1- b e in thes es t wi lbesesiibe h s arranges. iiisiit h t up rd ms sme i t hs arm A w ll. u l th r d 3, upw rd n. t e q-wnwatd, siit s he rm 3 he rojection may shift away fLfQIIl the. nut :14. A spring 8 8 (Fig. h ds the rod, 83 npifmal v downward, owri ahi ia s tiq ir the im. .0 re ts nion. he s -12 shew in h s. 4i... a id th y in er is, the position shown Big. 3. Thusthe iqnv oi the cy i der may e e ermined. brad; justn ent of the. stop. 81 and this is independent. of the downwardpositionoi the arm, 30.

n the cy nd 'fiii. (F g. is. aniston, Q hat-.- h a h low p to 1 d. l l: y moun d. h is q nd i he is lli v. Q tubul r pistonro s. ae l s th a hslsi h'slu hi lln stou ead. 93. and it h hqih ed eh i-l-- x I h he. iie rst s of the he h mes; o rates nstan ly and. suii ies. uantit of. fittings to thetube 4 with the fittings all posi-D tioned; in one direction. which. may. be with their ped h a downw dly. sh e menon i h hope ke s the ube. u l. f fit s. the tube Q .Q Zfi .W he i tinesiall ask. n e. hQHPQ T e, nemesis-ties" tion of, the arts as. slipwn n. h s ith. a.

fr s ihe in, the. apent i i i8. and. with. fittingsin the holder 16 operator now. places;

were. the;

the timer and thence to the solenoid 53 and the valve 52 is actuated for the passage of air therethrough. The air under pressure flows to the cylinders 32 and 39. The pistons in the cylinders are shifted and the shuttle is moved from the Fig. 3 position to the Fig. 6 position and the tube is clamped by the element 36. It will be understood that there were two fittings in the cylindrical holder 76 at the time the tube was placed in position. The action of shifting the shuttle and of clamping the tube occurs quickly, and in the shift of the shuttle the arm 39 pulls the rod 83 upwardly and rocks the holder from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 6. The position of the holder 16 when shifted as shown in Fig. 6, be accurately determined by the adjustment of the stop 32 and nut 8 At the same time, air is transmitted to the cylinder 66 through the conduit 56. There is a slightly delayed action in the shift of the piston 66 and the piston 93 because of the relatively low air pressure maintained on the left side of the cylinder 96, as Fig. 3 is viewed. This delay may be regulated by the valve 62. Accordingly, the holder 16 rocks from the Fig. 3 position to the Fig. 6 position before the piston 99 begins its movement or advances any appreciable extent. When the piston moves forwardly, the pilot rod 92 moves therewith and the projecting end of the pilot rod passes through the fittings. The hollow piston rod moves through the aperture 77 of the holder 15, which aperture is now in alignment with the piston rod and the fittings are therefore pushed to the left as Figs. 3 and 6 are viewed. The pointed end of the pilot rod engages in the open end of the tubing and its movement is checked. This is permitted because the pilot rod is slidably mounted in the piston. However, the air pressure applied to the piston 99 causes the same to continue its movement and the fittings are therefore caused to slide along the pilot rod 92 and thence onto the tubing as shown in Fig. 6.

The fitting which was in the aperture !8 drops head first through the tube 22, slides upwardly in the bight portion 24 and then slides downwardly through tube 25. In order to accelerate this action, air under pressure as controlled by the valve 58, may be introduced into the tube 22 to thus aid the action of gravity. This fitting may come to rest on the holder 76 as shown in P Fig. 6, while the holder is still in the Fig. 6 position; then again the holder may have returned to the Fig. 3 position before the fitting arrives to the location shown in Fig. 6. Another fitting falls into the aperture 59 of the shuttle.

The timer is so set as to maintain the electrical current on the solenoid 53 for a suitable period of time and then the timer breaks the circuit thus closing valve 52 with the valve serving to vent the line 64 and all lines connected thereto. The spring 3! returns the shuttle to the Fig. 3 position and the spring 68 returns the holder 15 to the Fig. 3 position while the spring pressed plunger 4| actuates the clamp 36 to release the tube. At this time, the fitting which reposes in the aperture IQ of the shuttle drops through the tube 23 and it, preceded by the fitting which has just dropped through the tube 22, slides into the holder in the position shown in Fig. 3. The venting of the line 54 results in the movement of the piston 96 and the pilot rod 92 back to the position shown in Fig. 3, due to the constant air pressure supplied to the cylinder through the line 64.

The parts have now gone through one cycle of operation, the tube with the fittings applied thereto are removed and another tubing inserted. The operation of the machine is rapid and is capable of functioning as rapidly as an operator can supply lengths of tubing thereto.

It has not been deemed necessary to show the details of the electrical timer 12, the solenoid 53 and the valve 52 as such elements are known to those versed in the art and the pressure of the air supplied to the valve 52 and to the reservoir 63 may be ascertained by the gauges shown. It might be further said that when air pressure is applied to the cylinder 60 through line 54 that the air under relatively low pressure on the opposite side of the piston is displaced and/or compressed back into the tank 63.

I claim:

In an aparatus for applying two hollow fittings, each having a head at one end and a screw thread at the other end, onto a length of tubing, comprising a conduit adapted to hold fittings in a column with the fittings all having the same position relative to each other, passage means of conduit form and of U-shape having a closed conduit bight portion positioned lowermost and having two conduit arm portions extending upwardly therefrom, the ends of the two arm portions being spaced from each other, the outlet end of said conduit being positioned adjacent to and above the said ends of the conduit arms of the passage means, a shuttle device positioned between the outlet end of the conduit and the upper ends of the two conduit arms and having apertures therein for receiving fittings from the conduit, means for shifting the shuttle device back and forth to thereby discharge alternate fittings respectively into the two conduit arms of the U-shaped passage, an outlet passage connecting into the conduit bight portion tangentially and disposed at an angle to the horizontal, whereby one fitting discharged into one conduit arm gravitates therethrough and directly into the tangential outlet passage, and the next fitting which is discharged into the other conduit arm gravitates therethrough and traverses the intersection between the outlet passage and the conduit bight portion and then reverses its direction of movement and gravitates through the outlet passage in reversed position, and mechanism at the end of the outlet passage for receiving two reversely positioned fittings.

ARTHUR W. PAYNE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 323,180 Mason July 28, 1885 612,865 Muslar Oct. 25, 1898 1,212,227 Whittaker Jan. 16, 1917 1,765,825 Cork June 24, 1930 2,105,377 Seeley Jan. 11, 1938 2,177,231 Tinnerman Oct. 24, 1939 2,278,544 Gaskill et a1. Apr. 7, 1942 2,281,190 Bertalan Apr. 28, 1942 2,322,538 Muther June 22, 1943 2,324,925 Hallowell July 20, 1943 2,353,774 Wagner July 18, 1944 2,421,916 Underwood June 10, 1947 2,510,137 Post June 6, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 378,774 Great Britain Aug. 18, 1932 586,042 Germany Oct. 17, 1933 

